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Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke, has formally assumed his diplomatic responsibilities after presenting his Letters of Credence to French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on October 5, 2026.
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New envoy targets stronger bilateral partnership: Oke said his assignment would focus on strengthening and recalibrating relations between Nigeria and France.
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The ambassador said his diplomatic agenda would also involve shaping international conversations about Nigeria, securing strategic advantages for the country.
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Oke’s posting comes as Nigeria continues to deepen its engagement with France across security, economic, diplomatic and cultural areas.
October 06, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke, has formally assumed office after presenting his Letters of Credence to French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris.
Oke disclosed this in a statement following the diplomatic ceremony held on Monday, October 5, describing it as a brief but significant occasion that formally marked the commencement of his assignment as Nigeria’s envoy to the French Republic.
The presentation of Letters of Credence is a formal diplomatic process through which an ambassador is accredited to the host country and officially assumes responsibility for representing his country.
Oke said the ceremony at the historic Élysée Palace underscored the need to strengthen and recalibrate the partnership between Nigeria and France.
According to him, his diplomatic mission would focus on deepening bilateral relations in key areas, particularly security, trade and investment.
He said the assignment would also require Nigeria to project its values and reputation with “clarity and credibility” while ensuring that the country’s strategic interests are properly represented in France.
“This means strengthening bilateral relations in security, trade, and investment, while upholding our values and reputation with clarity and credibility,” Oke said.
He added that his responsibilities would extend beyond conventional diplomatic engagements to include influencing conversations about Nigeria, securing advantages for the country and protecting the interests of Nigerian citizens.
“It also means shaping conversations, securing advantages, protecting citizens, and promoting Nigeria’s national image,” the ambassador said.
Oke’s formal assumption of office follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval of his posting as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to France earlier in 2026.
The Presidency announced in January that Tinubu had approved Oke’s posting to France, alongside the appointments of other ambassadors-designate.
In March, the Presidency listed Oke among the 31 non-career ambassadors whose postings had been approved and confirmed that France had granted the required diplomatic agrément for his appointment.
His appointment is part of a broader diplomatic exercise by the Federal Government aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s representation abroad and advancing the country’s interests through its diplomatic missions.
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Nigeria-France Relations
Nigeria and France have maintained diplomatic relations across several areas, including political engagement, security, trade, investment, culture and development.
France has historically regarded Nigeria as an important partner in addressing regional security challenges, particularly counter-terrorism and wider stability issues in West Africa. French diplomatic records also show that both countries have maintained high-level political and economic engagements over the years.
President Macron visited Nigeria in 2018, during which discussions included regional issues, the G5 Sahel, and the fight against terrorism.
The visit also featured engagements on entrepreneurship, culture and private-sector cooperation.
Similarly, President Tinubu made Paris one of his first major international destinations after assuming office, attending the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in June 2023 and meeting Macron during the visit.
The relationship has since continued to encompass economic and diplomatic cooperation, with both countries seeking areas of mutual interest.
Oke’s emphasis on security, trade and investment therefore places economic and strategic interests at the centre of his diplomatic agenda.
For Nigeria, stronger engagement with France could provide opportunities for increased investment, expanded trade, security cooperation and greater diplomatic engagement on issues affecting Nigeria and the wider African region.
The ambassador also stressed the importance of Nigeria maintaining a credible national image internationally, suggesting that his mission would place emphasis on how the country is represented and perceived in France.
His mandate will consequently involve engagement with the French government and institutions, businesses, diplomatic actors and the Nigerian community, while advancing the foreign policy objectives of the Federal Government.
Oke said the presentation of his credentials at the Élysée Palace represented an important moment in the bilateral relationship and pledged to pursue the assignment with a clear focus on Nigeria’s interests.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
